Spring Break
Softball splits doubleheader
BEN BUSSARD
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Sports
The Georgia women's softball team's home winning streak came to an end Wednesday as it dropped the second game of a doubleheader to Mississippi State 3-1 in 10 innings.
Georgia did split the doubleheader though, winning Game 1 10-0.
In Game 2, Georgia entered the top half of the seventh inning clinging to a 1-0 lead, but two singles followed by a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk led to a game-tying sacrifice fly by Mississippi State infielder Laurie Siebert. After two scoreless innings, Mississippi State scored two go-ahead runs in the 10th.
An infield single and a hit-by-pitch led to a two-base sacrifice fly by Mississippi State left fielder Kaili Smith, and a double by first baseman Sammie Jo Bailey plated the second run of the inning.
Georgia senior pitcher Christie Hamilton ended up pitching a career-high 10 innings allowing nine hits and three earned runs.
Mississippi State starting pitcher Lindsey Dunlap kept the Georgia hitters off balance and did not allow an earned run through 10 innings, allowing just six hits and four walks while striking out seven. Georgia scored its first and only run in the bottom half of the first inning thanks to a throwing error that allowed senior shortstop Kristin Schnake to score.
The loss marked the first time Georgia has lost to an unranked opponent all season.
"We just have to stick together as a team," sophomore pitcher Sarah McCloud said. "We have to focus and take it one game at a time."
In Game 1, McCloud was able to withstand countless Mississippi State base runners to notch her 12th win of the season.
McCloud struck out two, allowed three hits, surrendered three walks and hit two batters over five innings, but did not allow any runners to cross home plate in a 10-0 Georgia victory in five innings.
Pitching in and out of jams is nothing new for McCloud as she has issued 52 free passes this season in just 85.2 innings.
"When runners get on, you have to focus more," McCloud said. "It puts more pressure on you. Pitchers like pressure."
Georgia did split the doubleheader though, winning Game 1 10-0.
In Game 2, Georgia entered the top half of the seventh inning clinging to a 1-0 lead, but two singles followed by a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk led to a game-tying sacrifice fly by Mississippi State infielder Laurie Siebert. After two scoreless innings, Mississippi State scored two go-ahead runs in the 10th.
An infield single and a hit-by-pitch led to a two-base sacrifice fly by Mississippi State left fielder Kaili Smith, and a double by first baseman Sammie Jo Bailey plated the second run of the inning.
Georgia senior pitcher Christie Hamilton ended up pitching a career-high 10 innings allowing nine hits and three earned runs.
Mississippi State starting pitcher Lindsey Dunlap kept the Georgia hitters off balance and did not allow an earned run through 10 innings, allowing just six hits and four walks while striking out seven. Georgia scored its first and only run in the bottom half of the first inning thanks to a throwing error that allowed senior shortstop Kristin Schnake to score.
The loss marked the first time Georgia has lost to an unranked opponent all season.
"We just have to stick together as a team," sophomore pitcher Sarah McCloud said. "We have to focus and take it one game at a time."
In Game 1, McCloud was able to withstand countless Mississippi State base runners to notch her 12th win of the season.
McCloud struck out two, allowed three hits, surrendered three walks and hit two batters over five innings, but did not allow any runners to cross home plate in a 10-0 Georgia victory in five innings.
Pitching in and out of jams is nothing new for McCloud as she has issued 52 free passes this season in just 85.2 innings.
"When runners get on, you have to focus more," McCloud said. "It puts more pressure on you. Pitchers like pressure."
Be the first to comment on this story